Exclusive:Murphy Cooper opens up on Sheffield Wednesday culture, Henrik Pedersen and 'unbelievable' Pierce Charles
Murphy Cooper speaks to The Star in a wide-ranging interview on life at Sheffield Wednesday, enjoying life in Sheffield, Henrik Pedersen and a standout team mate.
Standing just to the right of the Hillsborough tunnel mouth, Murphy Cooper, with the humming of lawnmowers in the background, cuts a calm and relaxed figure.
The Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper has just made his first appearance in almost two months after recovering from a muscle injury, storing 60 minutes under his belt for the Under-21s in an undeserved 2-1 defeat to Cardiff City.
Originally expected to be taken off at half-time, it was a pleasant surprise to see Cooper, who is currently on loan at Hillsborough from Wednesday’s Championship counterparts QPR, reappear for the start of the second half and get another 15 minutes in the tank. Replaced by Jack Phillips after an hour, the goalkeeper earned a fist bump and a pat on the back from Owls U21s boss Giles Coke before taking his place on the bench.
Coming through his first appearance since Valentine’s Day without a scrape, Cooper told The Star: “Yes, it felt really good to be back out there. Obviously, it's been a frustrating six, seven weeks now not playing.
“I've been in the physio room and in the gym, but I've been working hard. The physios have looked after me and all the staff and everyone's been brilliant with me.
“So I’ve been itching to get back. But, yes, I'm feeling good, feeling strong, ready to rock and roll. So it was good to play 60 minutes today just to sort of get through it and take that box. So it should be sort of there or thereabouts now.
“I felt good throughout. I'm feeling a lot stronger now; in the last couple of weeks I've been getting there. So I think it was important to play a game to see how my leg would get through, but also just to get them sort of pictures back and get a bit of game time under my belt because I haven't played in nearly two months now.
“So, yes, I felt fine throughout the 60 minutes. I probably could have played 90, but I think 60 was enough, and we got out of the game what we needed to personally. And yes, I'm feeling good.”
One of the advantages of attending U21s fixtures with very few fans in attendance is that you soon identify the most vocal members of the squad. Orders and instructions are, of course, constantly barked out during first-team matches, but the noise generated by supporters makes it practically impossible to hear them.
Against Cardiff’s youngsters, who are managed by former Owls captain Darren Purse, it soon became clear just how vocal a goalkeeper Cooper is.
“You can probably hear a bit more about all the fans here and hopefully the lads can hear it as well,” Cooper continued with a chuckle. “But, yes, I think that's always been part of my game from when I was a child, really, just to try and talk and sort of helping the team out sort of helps me out because if I can get them in the right position and help them see things, obviously it means less work for me and a better chance of getting a win.
“But, yes, that's always been in my game.”
Cooper arrived at Hillsborough in January, being drafted in on loan from QPR for the remainder of the season after Wednesday lost first-choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles to a shoulder injury for a second time this season. Despite joining Wednesday from a London club, the 24-year-old did not have to move all that far. In fact, he did not have to move at all.
The shot-stopper was already living in Sheffield with his girlfriend after joining Wednesday’s South Yorkshire rivals, Barnsley, originally on a season-long loan deal, last June. However, the deal was cut short in January after the League One side activated a clause to end the loan agreement early.
“Even when I signed for Barnsley I chose to live in Sheffield just because it was slightly closer south,” Cooper admitted. “So if my family wanted to come up and my friends wanted to come up, they didn't have to do the full trip to Barnsley, they could come to Sheffield.”
On life at Wednesday and living in Sheffield, he continued: “Oh, I have absolutely loved it. From the moment I joined, obviously, I was already aware what a massive club it is, but sort of times ten once I'd signed and started playing for the club.
“I love it here. I think it's an amazing fan base, probably the best I've ever seen. And also just the club.
“I think, obviously, the club in the last couple of years have been going through some tough times. I think from the outside looking in, you might get a perception or sort of perspective of the club and how it's run and whatnot.
“But I've been thoroughly impressed with everything, from training to the standards behind closed doors and everything. The morale and the sort of togetherness of the team, the lads, but also the staff as a collective, I think it's some of the best I've seen.
“I've really enjoyed it here. My girlfriend and I live in Sheffield and we love the area, we love the club and I've really enjoyed my time here.”
Cooper, of course, arrived at Hillsborough at a juncture where Wednesday were in the midst of a ten-game run without a goal - a period that was undoubtedly the darkest during what has been a wretched campaign. Winning just once all season and now on a record-breaking 37-game winless run across all competitions, Wednesday’s players and coaching staff could have long since been forgiven for waving the white flag and downing tools.
Instead, as demonstrated with Saturday’s goalless draw against Coventry City, they have done anything but. And their refusal to roll over, in the eyes of Cooper, is down to the leadership of manager Henrik Pedersen, who has continued to get effort and desire out of a group of players that really ought to be on the floor.
“The gaffer is top,” Cooper insisted. “He's one of the nicest people I've ever met.
“He can lose his temper a bit in training and stuff when the standards aren't right, but he's done an amazing job of creating a culture. I think he's sort of bridged the gap between fans and players as well.
“I think he's helped the club as a collective feel togetherness and as one. I think he said to me when I signed him that the most important qualities for the players he brings in is to be a good person and a good human. I think that's sort of evident because everyone in the dressing room, everyone in the building, is a good person.
“I think, obviously, the position we're in is determined by other factors and stuff. I think the lads are brilliant. They've all welcomed me from day one.
“But then I also saw the chemistry they have between each other, and I think it's one of them ones where they've experienced these hard times together. So they've stuck with each other and I think it's really nice to see.”
Cooper is one of four goalkeepers to have been signed on loan by Wednesday this season due to an unprecedented injury crisis in that area of the team. However, at this moment in time, all is calm in the goalkeeping department, meaning Cooper is regularly training alongside Logan Stretch, Charles and Phillips.
And although the QPR loanee is only 24, he is the oldest member of Wednesday’s goalkeepers’ union, joking that he is the dad of the group.
“I think we've got a good goalie group with myself, Pierce, Stretchy and Philo,” he said. “Flavs [goalkeeping coach Darryl Flahavan] is one of the best I've worked with. He is a top man and top goalkeeper coach.
“I think it's a good group. It's weird because the goalies are normally a bit older, a bit more experienced, but I'm 24, and I'm like the dad of the group!”
Having overcome his injury and made a return to action, Cooper now knows he is facing an uphill struggle to force his way back into the team amid the form and presence of Charles. The latter has been outstanding in recent weeks, making a collection of fine saves, and his performance in the Easter Monday draw with Leicester City ranks as one of the best individual showings seen at Hillsborough in recent years.
The shot-stopper continued: “It was a bit of a weird one because when I came in Pierce was injured. And then when Pierce was sort of getting back in and around it, I was then injured, so I hadn't worked with him the whole time I've been here until about a week ago.
“It's difficult to put into words. Obviously, I'd known of Pierce before even coming here because you hear a lot of things about him. But seeing him in the flesh, training with him, he's an unbelievable goalkeeper.
“I've worked with some very good goalies, but I sometimes watch the stuff he does in training. On Monday [vs Leicester], without sounding like his fanboy, I was watching some of the saves he was making and I just couldn't believe it. I could not believe it. He's a top goalie.
“I'll continue to work hard and do my best to try and get back in the team. But I know... I'm not going to say my chances are slim, but something like that. Also, I'm a bit older and I've played professional football and men's football for a few years now, and I know what it takes for me to demand standards in training for the younger lads, so that Pierce stays on top of his game.
“But also, whilst Pierce is playing, I'll do anything to support him and help him have the best game possible, so that, as a team, we can try and finish the season strongly.”